What are the features of Adobe Digital Editions?

Access and organize eBooks using the 'Library' view. Organize an eBook collection using the default bookshelves and create custom bookshelves. Use the thumbnail view to display cover images of eBooks, or the list view to sort by title, author, date added to the library, date last accessed, publisher, or number of pages.

Multimedia Content

Adobe Digital Editions plays video and audio content embedded in eBooks, such as an audio version of music embedded within a book of sheet music or an animated map included in a geography text (with appropriate hardware and software installed).

How is an Adobe PDF eBook different from a typical PDF file?

An Adobe PDF eBook is a PDF file that is DRM-protected using Adobe DRM (Digital Rights Management). DRM allows publishers to protect eBooks from unlawful distribution and to set certain restrictions on content, such as limits on copying and printing.

What is a 'digital edition'?

Whereas 'Adobe Digital Editions' refers to a specific application, 'digital edition' is another term for 'eBook'. A digital edition is a PDF or EPUB file that is DRM-protected using Adobe DRM (Digital Rights Management). DRM allows publishers to protect digital content from unlawful distribution and to set certain restrictions on content, such as limits on copying and printing.

What is 'activation'?

Activation of Adobe Digital Editions allows you to read DRM-protected Adobe eBooks. The first time that you open Adobe Digital Editions, you must activate the program. Adobe Digital Editions can be activated anonymously, or by using an Adobe ID.

You will only be able to read a downloaded Adobe eBook on a single computer.

You will not be able to download an Adobe eBook on more than one computer. After the initial download of an Adobe eBook, subsequent downloads of that title can only be completed on the same computer.

You will not be able to transfer Adobe eBooks to a Sony Reader.

You can decide to activate using an Adobe ID at any time. However, if you activate Adobe Digital Editions with an Adobe ID which has already been used to activate Adobe Digital Editions on another computer, the Adobe eBooks you originally downloaded when using anonymous activation will no longer work.

Activating Adobe Digital Editions using an Adobe ID allows you to read DRM-protected eBooks on multiple computers as well as transfer Adobe eBooks to Sony Reader models PRS-505 (or newer) with v1.1 firmware (or newer) installed. Note that in order to transfer Adobe eBooks to Sony Reader devices, your device will need to be activated using the same Adobe ID as Adobe Digital Editions.

If you use an Adobe ID

You will be able to download an Adobe eBook on computers that have been activated with the same Adobe ID (up to 6 computers/devices can be activated using the same Adobe ID).

After the initial download of an Adobe eBook, subsequent downloads of that title can be completed on computers activated with the same Adobe ID.

You will be able to transfer Adobe eBooks to a Sony Reader that has been activated with the same Adobe ID.

You will only be able to read a downloaded Adobe eBook on a single computer.

You will not be able to download an Adobe eBook on more than one computer. After the initial download of an Adobe eBook, subsequent downloads of that title can only be completed on the same computer.

You will not be able to transfer Adobe eBooks to a Sony Reader.

You can decide to activate using an Adobe ID at any time. However, if you activate Adobe Digital Editions with an Adobe ID which has already been used to activate Adobe Digital Editions on another computer, the Adobe eBooks you originally downloaded when using anonymous activation will no longer work.

Activating Adobe Digital Editions using an Adobe ID allows you to read DRM-protected eBooks on multiple computers as well as transfer Adobe eBooks to Sony Reader models PRS-505 (or newer) with v1.1 firmware (or newer) installed. Note that in order to transfer Adobe eBooks to Sony Reader devices, your device will need to be activated using the same Adobe ID as Adobe Digital Editions.

If you use an Adobe ID

You will be able to download an Adobe eBook on computers that have been activated with the same Adobe ID (up to 6 computers/devices can be activated using the same Adobe ID).

After the initial download of an Adobe eBook, subsequent downloads of that title can be completed on computers activated with the same Adobe ID.

You will be able to transfer Adobe eBooks to a Sony Reader that has been activated with the same Adobe ID.

Should I activate Adobe Digital Editions anonymously or with an Adobe ID?

Activating Adobe Digital Editions using an Adobe ID allows you to do more with Adobe eBooks, such as downloading them on multiple computers and transferring them to supported portable devices. However, this is a matter of personal preference. Before deciding, please consider the following

If you use anonymous activation, note these limitations

You will only be able to read a downloaded Adobe eBook on a single computer.

You will not be able to download an Adobe eBook on more than one computer. After the initial download of an Adobe eBook, subsequent downloads of that title can only be completed on the same computer.

You will not be able to transfer Adobe eBooks to a Sony Reader.

You can decide to activate using an Adobe ID at any time. However, if you activate Adobe Digital Editions with an Adobe ID which has already been used to activate Adobe Digital Editions on another computer, the Adobe eBooks you originally downloaded when using anonymous activation will no longer work.

If you use an Adobe ID

You will be able to download an Adobe eBook on computers that have been activated with the same Adobe ID (up to 6 computers/devices can be activated using the same Adobe ID).

After the initial download of an Adobe eBook, subsequent downloads of that title can be completed on computers activated with the same Adobe ID.

You will be able to transfer Adobe eBooks to a Sony Reader that has been activated with the same Adobe ID.

In the appropriate fields, enter the email address and password for your Adobe ID.
If you do not already have an Adobe ID, click 'get an Adobe ID online' and follow the instructions to sign up for an Adobe ID.

Click 'Activate'.
Your computer is activated to your Adobe ID.

Click 'Finish' to close the 'Setup Assistant' dialog box.

How do I activate Adobe Digital Editions using an Adobe ID?

In the appropriate fields, enter the email address and password for your Adobe ID.
If you do not already have an Adobe ID, click 'get an Adobe ID online' and follow the instructions to sign up for an Adobe ID.

Click 'Activate'.
Your computer is activated to your Adobe ID.

Click 'Finish' to close the 'Setup Assistant' dialog box.

How do I activate my Sony Reader PRS-505 (or newer) using an Adobe ID?

Note that both Adobe Digital Editions and the Sony Reader must be activated with the same Adobe ID to transfer DRM-protected Adobe eBooks to the device.

Also, you must have the Sony eBook Library software installed on your computer to transfer Adobe eBooks to the Sony Reader. Please note that the display of Adobe eBooks on Sony Reader may vary, depending on the nature of the content.

Can I still use Adobe PDF eBooks I have purchased after upgrading from Adobe Reader to Adobe Digital Editions?

Yes. Adobe PDF eBooks can still be used, but if they are already on your computer, they may need to be downloaded again in order to work with Adobe Digital Editions v1.7.1 (or newer).

At this site, you can download eBooks again by accessing your My Account. Click the 'Download' link for the title you wish to download.

If the 'Download' link is not available, contact support to reactivate the download link. In your email, please provide your Transaction ID and date of sale as well as the title of the eBook you wish to download.

Can I use Adobe Reader to access the Adobe eBooks available at this site?

No. As of March 2009, Adobe discontinued Adobe Reader support for DRM-protected Adobe eBooks. In order to download Adobe eBooks from this site, you must have Adobe Digital Editions installed. For system requirements and download instructions, click here.

Note that you will still be able to open titles in Adobe Reader that were downloaded using Adobe Reader before March 2009; to download new titles, however, you must use Adobe Digital Editions.

Can I transfer Adobe PDF eBooks to a Sony Reader using Adobe Digital Editions?

Adobe eBooks can be transferred to Sony Reader model PRS-505 (or newer) with v1.1 firmware installed. To transfer Adobe eBooks to the Sony Reader, Adobe Digital Editions and the Sony Reader must be activated using the same Adobe ID. Also, you must have the Sony eBook Library software installed on your computer.

Please note that the display of Adobe PDF eBooks on the Sony Reader may vary, depending on the nature of the content.

To transfer Adobe PDF eBooks using Adobe Digital Editions

Open Adobe Digital Editions.

Click on the PDF eBook title you wish to transfer to your Sony Reader.

Drag the PDF eBook title to the PRS-505 icon in the left pane of Adobe Digital Editions.
The 'Copy Documents' dialog box is displayed and the title is transferred.
When transfer is complete the 'Copy Documents' dialog box closes. You can now disconnect the Sony Reader and enjoy the PDF eBook title on-the-go.

Can I transfer Adobe eBooks to Palm and Pocket PC devices using Adobe Digital Editions?

Adobe Digital Editions is prompting me to upgrade. What should I do?

To ensure that Adobe Digital Editions functions properly, you should upgrade Adobe Digital Editions when prompted. Failure to upgrade Adobe Digital Editions may result in the inability to download or open the Adobe eBooks available at this site. To download the newest version of Adobe Digital Editions, click here.